April 23, 2005 - With spring sports still going strong
as May fast approaches, Sulphur Springs will add another activity to
the calendar - spring football.

The Wildcats have been going through football drills in shorts the
last week during the athletic period, and they will start in pads next
Monday for a month-long session culminating in the spring intrasquad
game on May 21.

The UIL allows Class 4A and 5A schools to participate in 18 days of
spring practice in exchange for starting one week later in August. SSHS
head coach Brad Turner has found it helpful in years past.

"We like doing it," Turner said. "It gives you a chance to try some
kids out in different positions and do some things in practice that you
wouldn't or couldn't do in August.

"We have some flexibility to do some things in May that you don't have
when you're preparing for an opponent in August."

It's also a time when college scouts come calling. Last year, the practice
field was littered with Division I recruiters, brought in by the prospect
of luring Keenan Clayton to their campus. This season, senior offensive
lineman Jose Vargas appears to be the Cats' leading D-I prospect.

The practices always have to be worked out track - there are three
football players who are qualified for regional (Jermaine Wright, Jeff
Pitts, Logan Turner).

This year, there is an added twist. With the SSHS baseball team on
the verge of clinching a playoff berth and playing past the end of the
regular season, Turner is having to arrange the schedule so that the
two-sport Wildcats will be included as much as possible.

One of the baseball players is his son, Logan Turner, who is also the
starting quarterback. Other two-sport players on varsity include Jake
Broumley, Chance Massey, and wide receivers Josh Riley, Tyler Rhoades,
Bailey Potts and Colby Mills.

To help with the scheduling, the Wildcats will put on pads during the
athletic period at 11 a.m., and then work out late in the afternoons.
The UIL gives the Wildcats 30 days in which they can work out 18 times.

"We're re-introducing schemes and getting them back in the swing of
things," Turner said. "We'll put pads on Monday, and we'll practice after
school. Our quarterback and right now all four starting receivers are
all baseball players. So, we've got to readjust how we work out.

"We'll do some padded stuff during the period, then after school we'll
have to readjust because they do their baseball workout. This is the
first year we've had to do that - and that's good because our baseball
team has a chance for a district championship and playoffs. We'll do
the best we can without those guys and work around their schedule."

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